A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Recent Dog Attack on Queen Street

I'm playing catch up today, but here's a WUSA9 news report on the double dog attack and mauling in the 1200 block of Queen Street Friday. WJLA reports additional facts. Essentially, two dogs came at three kids. Two of the kids climbed onto a car to escape. A man came out with a knife and tried to get the dogs away, and they bit him on the hands and arms. Neighbors were then able to fight off they now injured dogs before the maul the man further. I've heard there was a great deal of blood on the street the next day.

I'm not taking away from this story at all...but kids (and adults) this is why you don't tease dogs. And I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

I used to walk my police dog breed and you would be shocked at the people who thought it was funny to get within leash distance and antagonize her...yelling sporadically, making motions and then laughing that it was so funny they got a reaction.

Of course if I let the dog react or couldn't control her, it would have been my fault she was trying to walk peacefully along and felt threatened.

Again, I'm not saying that's what happened here, but I've seen people teasing dogs before and they shouldn't be surprised if the dogs...which are in fact animals...react when provoked.

Anon - I think the difference here is that your dog was on a leash and therefore implied that you had control over the animal. I would find it very hard to believe that children would antagonize not one but two large breed dogs. I think the focus should be on finding the dogs so that the community can feel safe again. It's more likely that these dogs were just violent.

If you find it surprising that folks, especially teens, would provoke a leashed large breed dog, you are admitting your relative lack of knowledge on the subject with a statement like that. I have a 105 lb female cane corso. It is clear from a distance she is large, muscular and of what is generally referred to as the "fighting type" breed. While docile and well-trained, you would be amazed at the stunts youths have pulled trying to provoke her: lunging at her, quick sudden lurches, etc.

You'd be surprised. I have a large female boxer/mix and I cannot believe what the youth and even adults do. She's super playful and when the kids are teasing her (yelling, poking sticks at her, waving their arms/hands, etc) her tail is just wagging away and she's ready to play with them. All I can think is "this is how accidents happen." I try to explain it to them, but they just laugh at me.

all valid points, though i didnt say cane corsos were fighting breeds, they are perceived as such. and yes, while they are instinctively protective of their owners and immediate surroundings, proper socialization and training as a pup yields an animal that is a fine city or country dog that provides companionship to its owners/family while at the same time not posing an aggressive threat to pedestrians walking down the sidewalk

My bad I read your comment wrong. And I fully agree that Cane Corso's can be good city dogs with responsible owners.

I get kids that antagonize my dog from time to time too. I get just as many that shriek and run away and also well mannered kids that ask if they can pet my dog before trying.

I had to chuckle at the end of the video where they said the cops gave him Wizards tickets as a reward - Wow, were those the coveted tickets vs the Charlotte Bobcats? "We really appreciate your bravery sir- here's a couple of tickets that no one else around the station wanted."

if you've got an animal over 50 pounds confined in a small space and indoors for most of its natural life, it's a pretty good indication you're more interested in what you get out of the animal than its own overall quality of life.

I'll take the earlier guy one further, though: if your big dog takes a chunk of flesh out of my leg, I'll most likely put it down in front of you, and then come after you as well.

"if you've got an animal over 50 pounds confined in a small space and indoors for most of its natural life, it's a pretty good indication you're more interested in what you get out of the animal than its own overall quality of life. "

is that to imply that people who own big dogs get off on it? wtf does that statement even mean?

...if your big dog takes a chunk of flesh out of my leg, I'll most likely put it down in front of you, and then come after you as well.

I know I shouldn't even encourage this...but really? Keep living in a fantasy world where you can take on a "big dog" who has already taken a chunk of flesh out of your leg, as well as the owner or owners and come out putting everyone down. The real world isn't Grand Theft Auto, but whatever helps you sleep better at night.

size is somewhat irrelevant. Several large breeds like Great Dane's do great with moderate exercise and are perfectly happy sitting on the couch all day.

It's more about the breed and the exercise you give them more than the space they live in. If you have a little Jack Russell that you keep in an apt and only let out to pee then that's just as cruel as doing the same to a big lab

There's a Lab near 5th & F NE which seriously needs the authorities to come by and relieve it's owner of him - the poor thing is left alone in a tiny front yard and has clearly been allowed to overeat with no exercise at all. It sits cooped up in that yard and barks loudly at anything that goes by, and the negligent owner is nowhere to be seen. It appears to be at least 50 pounds overweight, can barely move, it's a really sad sight. I walk by there a couple of times a day, and this has been going on for YEARS. Some people shouldn't be allowed to be entrusted with the life of an animal.

@really- I think you read my post wrong...I stated that i would find it surprising that these children (ages 10-13) would have antagonized these dogs who were unleashed. I am merely stating that it was more likely that the dogs were violent...which appears to be the case as these same dogs went after a PG cop.

Not to belittle your point, but people do stupid things around animals when they feel there are no consequences...like lunging at or making childish barking noises at your dog on a leash...yes, its irritating to the dog but people feel comfortable doing it because he's on a leash and there is an assumption that you can control him. All in all, let's just be thankful that the dogs were put down before they could maim someone else.

There are some resources including the local Humane Society and non-profit group Dogs Deserve Better (http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/). I would seriously consider anonymously reporting the owner for animal neglect.